10 St. Patrick's Day highlights to enjoy in Sactown this weekend
Come search for your pot of gold at one of the many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around the Sacramento region this year. From parades to parties to boats, rejoice with festive music, refresh with Irish drinks and have the greenest time of your life at one of these local events.
O’Sacramento St. Patrick’s Parade (March 15)
One of the largest and most colorful parades hosted in town each year, this 18th annual march through Old Sacramento will feature over 1,000 marchers including Irish dancers, bagpipers, firefighters, marching bands and military regiments. More than 15,000 people last year attended the parade, which weaves from 2nd Street and Neasham Circle, down J Street and past the reviewing stand on Front St. Free. 1 p.m. oldsacramento.com
St. Patrick’s Day River Cruise (March 15)
Why not pair your parade viewing with a Sacramento River expedition? Hornblower Cruises is offering hour-long voyages throughout the day, departing from Old Sacramento’s L Street Dock and offering historical tour narration by your ship’s captain, face painting and balloon art for the kids, and snacks and beverages provided by Fat’s Catering. $20. 1206 Front St. 916-446-1185. hornblower.com
St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl (March 15)
Starting at Blue Cue, ending at Starlite Lounge, and visiting a dozen bars and hotspots in between (including outdoor quaffs at K Street’s new Der Biergarten and $2.50 corned beef hash sliders and fries at Cornerstone Café & Bar), this event marks the ninth annual St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl organized by Sacramento’s 5hundy Social Club. The walk costs nothing to join, while additional food and drink specials along the way will be announced via the organization’s Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/events/473735296083100/). Free. 3:30-10:30 p.m. 5hundy.net
Shamrock’n Half-Marathon, 5K and Kids’ Run (March 15-16)
The 10th annual trio of races wind through Sacramento and conclude in West Sacramento at the third-base line of Raley Field. Participants in the 5K run on Saturday receive a complimentary River Cats game ticket while youngsters in the half-mile Kids’ Run take home a commemorative baseball. Meanwhile on Sunday, runners and spectators alike can enjoy live music from 14 local bands along the route (including Exquisite Corps, Walking Spanish, The Kimberly Trip and Freebadge Serenaders) and celebrate with a post-race party at the ballpark. The event goes to benefit the youth-fitness group Project Fit and the Triumph Foundation to help rehabilitate cancer survivors. $17 entry fee for Kids’ Run participants (12 and under); $45 for 5K participants. 8 a.m. Saturday. 7:45 a.m. Sunday. shamrocknhalf.com
The Delta King (March 15-17)
The Delta Bar & Grill aboard Old Sacramento’s most famous riverboat is supplementing its everyday menu with traditional (corned beef and cabbage) and not-so-traditional (Irish burritos combining egg, corned beef, sour cream and salsa) fare offered over the three-day holiday frame, as well as with drink specials and live music. No cover. 1000 Front St. 379-5002. deltaking.com
De Vere’s Irish Pub (March 17)
No place on the grid will be greener than the corner of 16th and L streets, with the St. Patty’s stalwarts at de Vere’s Irish Pub opening at 9 a.m. and neighboring clubs Mix Downtown and Firestone Public House later joining along in the all-day (and all-night) fun: Local band Nunchuck Taylor will rock Firestone at 6 p.m., while DJ Peeti V will spin at Mix Downtown starting at 7 p.m. No cover. 1132 16th St. 446-0888. deverespub.com
The Boxing Donkey (March 17)
This Irish pub in Roseville will open at 6 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day with a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for child cancer research and a live broadcast by KNCI radio hosts Pat and Tom. From 10 a.m. onward, enjoy traditional food, a beer garden (with green brew and Guinness among other libations), live music and more holiday happenings throughout the day. (A cameo by the pub’s four-legged namesake is promised as well.) $5 cover after 10 a.m. 300 Lincoln St. Roseville. 797-3665. theboxingdonkey.com
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op (March 17)
During its St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, the co-op will host an Irish-themed cooking demonstration and meal boasting an Irish cheese plate, colcannon (a traditional dish combining mashed potatoes and cabbage or kale), beef and Guinness stew, soda bread biscuits, and an Irish bread pudding for dessert. $45 ($35 for co-op owners). 6:30-8:30 p.m. 1900 Alhambra Blvd. 455-2667. sacfoodcoop.com
Fox & Goose (March 17)
The venerable R Street pub is hosting its 39th annual St. Patrick’s Day party, offering live music by the Pikeys and Bobby & the Kennedys, plus traditional Irish food from 3-11 p.m. and plenty of Guinness, Harp and other classic Irish beer. If you can’t make Monday night, get your jig on Saturday night with the Pikeys and Stepping Stone starting at 9 p.m. $2-$10 sliding cover. 1001 R St. 443-8825 foxandgoose.com
Pine Cove (March 17)
This 29th Street institution will turn the luck of the Irish loose on midtown starting at 1 p.m., promising green swag for customers, green beer and Irish car bombs (among other “aggressive” drink specials), and corned beef and cabbage for lunch and dinner. If nothing else, come at 4 p.m. for the traditional Celtic tunes by the local four-piece Mighty Odd Gents, and stay for the karaoke getting underway at 8 p.m. No cover. 502 29th St. 446-3624. facebook.com/pinecovetavern
